A retired Scarborough elementary school teacher now aged 85 has been charged with sexually assaulting a young boy 50 years ago, and police suspect there may be other victims.

The long-ago events involve an alleged series of attacks that began in 1962, when the boy was 7, and went on for five years.

As with most serious crimes, there is no statute of limitations on charges of indecent assault, as sex attacks were described in the Criminal Code at the time.

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Detective Michele Bond of the Toronto Police Service's sex crimes unit said the complainant only spoke up when the accused, Alec Owen, was charged last November in an unrelated child-pornography investigation that followed a tip from British police.

Free on bail, Mr. Owen was employed as a teacher in Scarborough from 1959 to 1981, chiefly at junior public schools. In addition, he worked part-time as a tutor.

Det. Bond acknowledged that it may not be easy for victims to step forward and relive trauma that occurred so long ago.

"We know it's a very difficult thing to do but we would like to talk to you," she said.

Anyone with information about the case is urged to call detectives at 416-808-8500 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-808-8477.

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